Means for controlling the combustion of hydrocarbons



J. L. BREESE, JR 7 MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE C'OMBUSTION 0 HYDRQCARIBIQNSU Fildwov. 9. 1926 Ir!!! 1 1/ III/II Gummy nection with domestic heating plants.

Patented Ma 17, 1927.

UNITED STA TE'S PATENT OFFICE. I

JAMES L. BREESE, 33., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OIL DEVICES CORPORA- TION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING- THE COMBUSTION HYDROCA1IBONS.

Application filed November 9,1926. Serial No. 147,218 L My invention relates to a device for burning hydrocarbons,'and is particularly adapted for burning liquid hydrocarbons in ism- 5 object is the provision of a simple and easily manufactured combustion device with a mlnlmum number of movlng parts. Another obJect is the provlsion of a combustlon device in which hydrocarbons may be burned to substantially noiselessly. Another object is the provision of means for returninga circulation of the exhaust gases of combustion 1npreferably remain open. I also illustrate to the infiowing mixture, in order to quiet the noise of combustion. Another object is II the provision of both automatic and manual means for regulating and varying the relative proportions ofair and exhaust gases delivered to the zone of combustion. Another object is the provision of automatic meansffor varying the relative proportions of air and exhaust gases from a maximum of air at the initiation .of combustion to a minimum of air during normal full combustion. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and cla' s. .1 illustrate my inventionv more or ess diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, which is a side elevation of my device With parts in section. Like parts are-indicated b like symbols throughout-the drawing an specification a A indicatesv any suitable furnace with which my burner may be used. Since the details'of the furnace form no part of the present invention, it is merely diagrammatically indicated.

B is any suitable base or support, on

which is mounted a motor. B "with which is associa,ted'a fanchamber B having a tangentia], exhaust passage B which extends into the furnace A." and terminates in a casing B therein. B indicates atop for said casing, having a'main central aperture B surrounded by .a plurality of smaller apertures-BK 1 0 indicates alongitudinal passage member mounted within the passage B and terminating in' a mixing chamberll the upper" v "lateral extensionjD iand heat'the thermoedge C of which engages the inner edge of the aperture B. areany suitable supporting'or spacing members.

; lateral extension'D passing through the wall of the furnace A.. The innerend of this extension D is positioned and shaped, for example as shown at D to receive exhaust gases of combustion, and return them to the passage C.

E indicates an air inlet aperture positioned" in the member D or in the extension D 'It is provided with the closure member E mounted on.a thermostatic strip E 'herein shown as secured as at E to the wall of the members D when the furnace is cold, the closure E will It will be understood that an auxiliary air inlet E which may be provided with any suitable-manually operable closure E G is a fuel nozzle projectin into the outer end 'ofthe passage C, and a igned with its longitudinal axis. It is supplied bythe fuel line G which extends from any suitable fuel source. G indicates any suitable typeof pump, for example a rotary pump, which may be driven from the motor 13, for example b means of the belt G -It wil be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operadescription and showing.

- The use and-operation ofmy invention are as follows:

At the initiationv of combustion, the'ther- -mos'tatic e'lement E holds the closure. E

withdrawn a substantial distance from the.

airinlet E. As a result, a substantial current of air flows in through the aperture E and through the'passage C." For ignition I may employ any suitable means commonly known' in the art, for example a torch or pilot light,

the ignition-means being not shown, since the details do not form part of the presentinvention. As ignition begins some.- of the exhaust gases of combustion flow into; the

static member-1 3?. As it is heated it closes the aperture E thus decreasing the volume loo of theinflowing air, and increasing the volreturned to the assage C.

It will be un erstood that the return of 'ume of the exhaust gases of combustion; y

the exhaust gases has the double function of heating the hydrocarbon and of reducing and practically eliminating the noise of combustion. It is not necessary to go into the causes of this silencing effect, but it is a fact that the use of a return circuit of'exhaust gases does practically eliminate the noise of combustion, the mixtures so formed burning silently.

I preferably so arrange the thermostatic element that it will completely close the air inlet E after a predetermined periodof combustion. In order to provide a minimum of air I may employ the supplemental .and

manually controlled air inlet E". \Vhereas the circulation of air and exhaust gases into and through the passage C is effected by natural draft, I prefer to provide a. secondary air supply which is or may be constantly eontrolled,'for example 'bythe employment ofa blower. .This secondary air is admitted into the zone of combustion through the, apertures B" in the top B of the casing B whereas the primary mixture of hydrocarbon invention, but I indicate a rotary pump admitted through the aperture E..

and exhaust gases, with Whatever air is admitted to it through the apertures E and E enters the zone of combustion through the'main central aperture '13.

The details of the admission or spraying of the oil are not important in the present driven by the motor B which delivers fuel :under pressure along the line 'G to the spraying nozzle G. The finely divided hydrocarbon sovdelivered in liquid form is mingledwith the heated exhaust gases and is 'to a great extent vaporized or gasified thereby, prior to reaching the actual zone of combustion.

Although the thermostatic regulation above described is particularly important in connection with the initiation of combustion,

it will be realized that a decrease in the temperature of the exhaust gases returned will always increase the primary air supply Although- I have illustrated thermostatic means for' effecting the regulation of the -flow of return gasesxand air, it will be realized that I do not limit myself to thermo- .static .means. Any automatic control for effecting such regulation may be employed, and, for example, any automatic means for lation of said exhaust gases, after the initiation of combustion.

2 In a heating device a combustion charn-- ber, an air inlet passage in communication therewith, a fuel inlet member, a return connection adapted to direct a circuit of the exhaust gases of combustion into said air inlet passage, and automatic means adapted at the same time to decrease the air circulation and increase the exhaust gas circulation.

3. In a heating device a combustion chamber, an air inlet passage in communication therewith, a fuel inlet member, a return connection adapted to (lirecta circuit of the exhaust gases of combustion into said air inlet passage, and thermostatic means adapted at the same time to decrease the air circulation and increase the exhaust gas circulation. I v

4. In a heating device a combustion chamber, an air inlet passage in communication therewith, a fuel inletmember, a return connection adapted to direct a circuit of the exhaust gases of combustion into said air inlet passage, and means. for at the same time decreasing the volume of the inflowing air and increasing the volume of the circulated exhaust gases.

5.-In a heating device a combustion chamber, an air inlet passage in communication therewith, a fuel inlet member, a-return connection adapted to direct a circuit of the exhaust gases of combustion into said air inlet passage, and automatic means for at the same time decreasing the volume of the inflowing air and increasing the volume of the circulated exhaust gases after a predetermined initial period of combustion. 6. In a heating device a combustion chamber, .an air inlet passage in communication therewith, a return connection adapted to direct a return circuit of exhaust gases into the stream of inflowing air, a fuel inlet member, an inlet opening in communication with said air inlet passage, and automatic means for controlling it 7. In a heating devieea' combustion chamber, an air inlet passage in communication therewith, areturn connection adapted to direct a return circuit of exhaust gases into the stream of inflowing air, a fuel inlet' member, an inlet opening in communication with said air inlet passage, and automatic means* for at theisame time varying the passage of exhaust gases through the return connection in inversev proportlon'to varia-.' tions in the supply of mflowmg air effected by said control.

8. In a heating device a combustion chamber, an air inlet passage in communication therewith, a return connection adapted to direct a return circuitof exhaust gases into the stream of inflowing air, a fuel inlet ill member, an inlet opening in communication with said 8.11 inlet passage, control means for said air inlet passage and for said return' connection adapted, at the initiation of combustion, to permit the flow of a minimum of *exhaust gases and a maximum of air, and

adapted automatically to decrease the flow of air and increase the return circuit of exhaust gases after the initiation of combustion.

9. In a heating device a combustion cham ber, an'air mlet passage in communication therewith, a return connection adapted .to

direct a return circuit of exhaust ases into the stream of inflowing air, a el' inlet member, an inlet opening in communication 7 with said air mlet passage, control means mum of exhaust gases and a maximum of air, adapted automatically to, decrease the flow of .air to a predetermined minimum and increase the return circuit of exhaust gases to a predetermined maximum after a predeterminedperiod of combustion.

10. In a heating device a combustion chamber, an air'inlet passage in communication therewith, a fuel inlet member, a return connection adapted to direct a circuit of the exhaust gases of combustion toward the combustion chamber, and auto-' matically operative unitary means for inversely Varying the flow of the air and of the exhaust gases, res ectively, through said air inlet passage an the initiation of combustion.

35, return connection, after Signed at Washington, in the District. of

Columbia,"'this .8th da of November, 1926.

' JAME L. BREESE, JR. 

